Distributor



Dec. 20, 1960 J. c. NORRIS ETAL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Nov. '25. 1957 s H 7 ga m m m 1. W. 0 J 1N0 fi M /T 6 A u as d M WJ UAW .a 2 M 2 I. M 4 m ks wr g M w United States Patent DISTRIBUTOR James C. Norris, Pendleton, andJohn S. Oliver, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 25, 1957, Ser. No.698,680

12 Claims. (Cl. 200-30) This invention relates to motor vehicledistributors, and more particularly to an arrangement for mounting adistributor circuit-breaker assembly on a breaker plate and to anarrangement for securing together certain parts of the circuit-breakerassembly.

It is an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle distributorwherein a circuit-breaker assembly may be attached to or removed from abreaker plate without removing the attaching screws from their threadedopenings in the breaker plate. This object is accomplished by providingthe contact supporting plate of the circuit-breaker assembly withopen-ended slots at opposite ends thereof that accommodate the screws.

It is another object of this invention to provide a distributor whereina breaker plate carries a plurality of threaded fasteners that areadapted to secure a circuit-breaker assembly to a breaker plate, andwherein the threaded fasteners are headed or staked over at one side ofthe breaker plate to prevent removal of the threaded fasteners from thebreaker plate, the circuitbreaker assembly including a contactsupporting plate having open-ended slots formed at opposite ends thereofthat accommodate the threaded fasteners.

A further object of this invention is to provide a circuit-breakerassembly for a distributor wherein the contact supporting plate carriesa second plate that is pivotally connected to the contact supportingplate at one end thereof, and wherein a slidable connection is providedbetween the opposite end of the second plate and the contact supportingplate, the slidable connection including a resilient member that issecured to the second plate and which has a portion projecting through aslot formed in the contact supporting plate, the portion extendingthrough the slot having integral ears that slide along one face of thecontact supporting plate.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a circuit-breakerassembly including a contact supporting plate that has open-ended slotsformed at opposite ends thereof and wherein the open end of one of theslots faces in a direction substantially normal to the direction offacing of the open end of the other slot.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a distributor made in accordance with thisinvention showing the breaker-plate assembly and circuit-breakerassembly of the distributor.

Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view of the distributor shown in .Fig. landshowing one step of a series of steps for assembling a circuit-breakerassembly to the breaker plate of the distributor.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing another step in theattachment of the circuitabreaker assembly to a breaker plate.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modifiedarrangement for slidably securing together two plate members of acircuit-breaker assembly.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing still anotherarrangement for securing together two plate members of a circuit-breakerassembly.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, a distributor generallydesignated by reference numeral 10 is shown. The distributor has ahousing 12 and a breaker plate 14 that is rotatably supported by thehousing in any suitable manner. The breaker plate 14 is connected with avacuum power unit 16 by a link 18. The vacuum unit, as is well known tothose skilled in the art, rotates the breaker plate 14 to adjust thetiming of the distributor. A breaker cam 20 is located centrally of thebreaker plate and is connected with a shaft (not shown) that is, inturn, driven by the engine of a motor vehicle in a conventional manner.

The circuit-breaker assembly of the distributor is generally designatedby reference numeral 22 and comprises a contact supporting plate 24 thatcarries a pin 26. The pin 26 pivotally supports a second contact plate28 that has an opening (not shown) through which the pin 26 passes. Thecontact plate 28 is provided with upturned flanges 30 and 32, the flange32 carrying a fixed electrical contact 34. The contact 34 co-operateswith an electrical contact 36 that is carried by a breaker arm 38, whichis pivotally supported by pin 26. The breaker arm 38 carries a rubbingblock 40 which engages the breaker cam 20. The contacts 34 and 36 arenormally held closed by a spring 42 which has one end attached torubbing block 40 and which has its opposite end fixed to an upstandinglug 44 which is integral with the contact supporting plate 24. With thisarrangement and during rotation of cam 20, the breaker arm 38 isperiodically moved to an open position against the bias of spring 42 toprovide for intermittent engagement of the breaker point contacts 34 and36.

The plate 28, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 5, is provided witha downturned tongue 46 having an opening 48. This tongue projectsthrough a slot 50 formed in contact supporting plate 24 and alsoprojects into an opening 52 formed in breaker plate 14. A rectangularspring metal member, generally designated by reference numeral 54 andhaving upwardly-extending cars 56, is threaded through the opening 48 ofdownturned tongue 46 with the upstanding ears 56 engaging the lower faceof contact supporting plate 24. The opening 48 is made just wide enoughto accommodate the spring metal member 54. The slot 50 is wide enough toprovide for sliding movement of tongue 46 within the slot 50, thismovement being along an arc of a circle whose center is the center ofpin 26.

The flange 30 of plate 28 has a threaded opening that is adapted toreceive a threaded fastener 58. The thread ed fastener passes through anopening in a flange 60 that is integral with the contact supportingplate 24. A spring 62 is interposed between flanges 30 and 60 andnormally biases the plate 28 in a counterclockwise direction aroundpivot pin 26 as viewed in Fig. 1. With this arrangement, the plate 28may be adjusted relative to contact supporting plate 24 by a rotation ofthe threaded fastener 58. When the plate 28 is being adjusted relativeto contact supporting plate 24, the spring 54 provides a slidableconnection therebetween, the earl 3 S6 sliding along the bottom edge ofcontact supporting plate 24.

It is to be particularly observed that the contact supporting plate 24is provided with open-ended slots 64 and 66 which are adapted toaccommodate threaded fasteners 67 and 68. The side edges 64a and 64b ofslot 64 are directed along an arc of a circle, the center of which islocated within the arcuate portion of slot 66, and thus the open end ofslot 64 faces in a direction that is substantially normal to the openend of slot 66. The threaded fastener 67, which may be a screw, is shownin greater detail in Fig. 4. This fastener threadingly en gages athreaded hole 69 formed in breaker plate 14 and has a staked orheaded-over portion 67a located below breaker plate 14 which preventsthe removal of screw 67 from the breaker plate. The threaded fastener 68is identical to threaded fastener 67 and is likewise threaded intobreaker plate 14 and has a staked or headed-over portion which preventsremoval of the fastener from the breaker plate. It is also to beobserved that the breaker plate 14 has a dimple or struck-away portion14a that interfits with an opening 24a formed in contact supportingplate 24.

When it is desired to assemble the circuit-breaker assembly 22 to thebreaker plate 14, the slot 66 is slid onto the shank of threadedfastener 68 and the circuitbreaker assembly is then rotatedcounterclockwise to a position wherein the slot 64 surrounds the shankof threaded fastener 67. These steps of assembly are illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3 of drawings. When the circuitbreaker assembly is in place,as shown in Fig. l, the dimple 14a fits within opening 24a and thethreaded fast eners may then be tightened to tightly secure thecircuitbreaker assembly 22 to the breaker plate 14. It will be observedthat it is not necessary to remove the screws 67 and 68 from the breakerplate in order to remove or assemble a circuit-breaker assembly to thebreaker plate. In fact, with the arrangement described, it is impossiblewith ordinary means to remove the screws 67 and 68 from the breakerplate 14 once the screws have been assembled to the breaker plate andheaded over as shown in Fig. 4.

As noted above, the open ends of slots 66 and 64 are positioned in apredetermined angular relationship so that the slot 64 extends along anarc of a circle whose center is located within slot 66. Further, asnoted above, the breaker plate 14 has a protuberance 14a that fitswithin opening 24a in contact supporting plate 24. This arrangementprovides for easy assembly of the circuitbreaker assembly to the breakerplate, and also insures that the circuit-breaker assembly 22 will beheld positively to the breaker plate 14 during rotation of breaker earn20. This is due in part to the fact that the side edges 66a and 66b ofslot 66 face in a direction that is substantially normal to the line offorce being applied to the breaker arm through breaker cam 20 andrubbing block 40. This line of force thus tends to move the side edge66a of the slot 66 against the threaded fastener 68, which precludesmovement of the circuit-breaker as sembly 22 away from breaker cam 20.The assembly 22 is also held fixed from movement away from breaker cam20 by reason of the dimple 14a contacting the walls of opening 24a ofcontact supporting plate 24. The dimple 14a cannot leave the opening2411 because the circuit breaker assembly 22 is held tightly againstbreaker plate 14 by screws 67 and 68. It should be observed that theposition of slots 64 and 66 could be reversed, in which case the sideedges 66a and 66b of slot 66 again would be normal to the line of forcebeing applied to rubbing block 40 but would pass around screw 67 ratherthan around screw 66.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a modified arrangement for slidably supportingone end of plate 28 on contactsupporting plate 24 is shown. In thisfigure the same reference numerals as used in Fig. are employedtodesignate identical parts in each figure. In the arrangement can of Fig.6, a resilient spring clip 70 is provided which has a U-shaped shank 72and a pair of upwardly-extending cars 74. The U-shaped shank 72 projectsthrough an opening 76 formed in contact supporting plate 28, and alsoprojects through opening 50 formed in contact supporting plate 24. Thecars 74, like the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, are positioned in theopening 52 formed in breaker plate 14. The U-shaped shank member 72 hasslots 78 through which are passed a retaining member 80 that contactsthe upper face of plate 28. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, aslidable connection is provided between contact support 24 and plate 28,the ears 74 sliding along the lower face of contact plate 24 and theupper end of U-shaped member 72- being held in fixed relationship toplate 28 by member 80. The opening 76 in this arrangement is just wideenough to accommodate the width of spring clip 70.

Another modified arrangement for providing a slidable connection betweenone end of plate 28 and contact supporting plate 24 is illustrated inFig. 7. In this figure, the same reference numerals as those used inFig. 5 have been employed to identify identical parts in each figure. Inthe arrangement of Fig. 7, a spring metal member 82 having upstandingcars 84 is employed. The spring metal member has a U-shaped shankportion 86 which carries outwardly-struck cars 88. The shank portion 86passes through a slot 89 formed in contact support 28 and passes througha slot 50 formed in contact supporting plate 24. The slot 89 is justwide enough to accommodate the width of shank portion 86. The lower endsof cars 88 engage the top edge of plate 28, whereas the upstanding ears84 engage the lower edge of contact supporting plate 24. With thearrangement described, a slidable connection is provided between plate28 and contact supporting plate 24, the cars 84 sliding along the loweredge of contact support 24 and the ears 88 providing a fixed connectionbetween the spring metal member 82 and the plate 28. In the arrangementof Fig. 7, it is only necessary to force the spring metal member 82upwardly through slots 50 and 89 to assemble the plate 28 to the contactsupporting plate 24. When the spring metal member 82 has been forcedupwardly a sufficient distance, the ears 88 snap outwardly to engage theupper face of plate 28.

It will be observed that in the embodiments of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 theplates 28 and 24 are spring-held together from vertical movementrelative to one another, but are permitted to slide relative to oneanother. In each case, this connection is made by a rectangularresilient spring member which has upstanding ears that slidingly engagea lower face of contact supporting plate 24 and which is secured toplate 28.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a motor vehicle distributor, the combination comprising, a drivencam member, a breaker plate, a circuit-breaker assembly including acontact supporting plate and a second plate secured to contactsupporting plate, a fixed electrical contact supported by said secondplate, a breaker arm carrying an electrical contact that intermittentlyengages said fixed contact pivotally supported by said contactsupporting plate and having means in engagement with said cam member forintermittently separating said fixed and movable contacts, a firstopenended slot in said contact supporting plate located at one endthereof, a second open-ended slot in said contact supporting platelocated at the opposite end of said contact supporting plate from thelocation of said first slot, a first threaded fastener passing throughsaid first slot in threaded engagement with said breaker plate forholding one end of said circuit-breaker assembly in fixed relationshipwith said breaker plate, and a second threaded fastener passing throughsaid second slot in threaded engagement with said breaker plate forholding the opposite end of said circuit-breaker assembly in fixedrelationship with said breaker plate, said threaded fasteners eachhaving bent-over portions located at the side of said breaker plateopposite from the side that supports said circuit-breaker assemblywhereby said threaded fasteners are prevented from being removed fromsaid breaker plate.

2. In a motor vehicle distributor, the combination comprising, arotatable cam member, a breaker plate, a circuit-breaker assemblyincluding a contact supporting plate and a second fixed contactsupporting plate, a fixed electrical contact point supported by saidsecond plate, a breaker arm carrying an electrical contact thatintermittently engages said fixed contact pivotally supported by saidcontact supporting plate and having means in engagement with said cammember for intermittently separating said fixed and movable contacts, afirst openended slot in said contact supporting plate located at one endthereof, a second open-ended slot having its open end facing in adirection substantially normal to the direction of facing of the openend of said first slot in said contact supporting plate located at anopposite end thereof, a first threaded fastener passing through saidfirst slot in threaded engagement with said breaker plate for holdingone end of said circuit-breaker assembly in fixed relationship with saidbreaker plate, and a second threaded fastener passing through saidsecond slot in threaded engagement with said breaker plate for holdingthe opposite end of said circuit-breaker assembly in fixed relationshipwith said breaker plate, said threaded fasteners each having bent-overend portions located at the side of said breaker plate opposite from theside that supports said circuit-breaker assembly whereby said threadedfasteners are prevented from being removed from said breaker plate.

3. A circuit-breaker assembly for a distributor comprising, a contactsupporting plate, an upstanding pin fixed to said supporting plate, asecond plate carrying a fixed contact pivotally mounted on said pin at apoint located adjacent one end of the second plate, and resting on saidcontact supporting plate, an opening in said contact supporting platespaced from said pin and located below a portion of said second plate, aspring metal member having a portion secured to said second plate andhaving a pair of resilient ears engaging the underside of said contactsupporting plate adjacent said opening whereby said contact supportingplate and said second plate are slidably secured together, a breaker armpivotally supported by said pin having a contact that is engageable withsaid fixed contact and carrying a rubbing block that is adapted toengage a distributor breaker mm, a first open-ended slot located at oneend of said contact supporting plate, and a second open-ended slotlocated at an opposite end of said contact supporting plate, said secondslot extending along an arc of a circle the center of which is locatedin said first slot.

4. A circuit-breaker assembly for a distributor com prising, a contactsupporting plate, an upstanding pin fixed to said supporting plate, asecond plate carrying a fixed contact pivotally mounted on said pin at apoint located adjacent one end of said second plate, and resting on saidcontact supporting plate, an opening in said contact supporting platespaced from said pin and located below a portion of said second plate, adownwardly-extending lug having an opening, said lug extending throughthe opening in said contact supporting plate, a spring metal memberextending through the opening in said lug having a pair of ears engagingthe underside of said contact supporting plate adjacent said openingwhereby said contact supporting plate and said second plate are slidablysecured together, a breaker arm pivotally supported by said pin having acontact that is engageable with said fixed contact and carrying arubbing block that is adapted to engage a distributor breaker cam, meansfor adjusting said second plate relative to said contact supportingplate, .a first open-ended slot at one end of said contact supportingplate, and a second open-ended slot located at an opposite end of saidcontact supporting plate, said second slot extending along an arc of acircle, the center of which is located in said first slot.

5. A circuit-breaker assembly for a distributor comprising, a contactsupporting plate, an upstanding .pin fixed to said supporting plate, asecond plate carrying a fixed contact pivotally mounted on said pin at apoint located adjacent one end of said second plate, and resting on saidcontact supporting plate, an opening in said contact supporting platespaced from said pin and located below a portion of said second plate,an opening in said second plate, a spring metal member having asubstantially U-shaped shank portion, extending through said openingsand having a pair of resilient ears engaging the underside of saidcontact supporting plate adjacent the opening in said contact supportingplate, said shank portion having aligned openings located above saidcontact supporting plate, a member passing through said aligned openingsand engaging the top side of said second plate, a breaker arm pivotallysupported by said pin having a contact that is engageable with saidfixed contact and carrying a rubbing block that is adapted to engage adis tributor breaker cam, means for adjusting said second plate relativeto said contact supporting plate, a first open-ended slot at one end ofsaid contact supporting plate, and a second open-ended slot located atan opposite end of said contact supporting plate, said second slotextending along an arc of a circle the center of which is located insaid first slot.

6. A circuit-breaker assembly for a distributor comprising, a contactsupporting plate, an upstanding pin fixed to said supporting plate, asecond plate carrying a fixed contact pivotally mounted on said pin at apoint located adjacent one end of said second plate, and resting on saidcontact supporting plate, an opening in said contact supporting platespaced from said pin and located below a portion of said second plate,an opening in said second plate, a spring metal member having asubstantialcured together, a breaker arm pivotally supported by said pinhaving a contact that is engageable with said fixed contact and carryinga rubbing block that is adapted to engage a distributor breaker cam,means for adjusting said second plate relative to said contactsupporting plate, a first open-ended slot at one end of said contactsupporting plate, and a second open-ended slot located at an oppositeend of said contact supporting plate, said second slot extending alongan arc of a circle the center of which is located in said first slot.

7. A circuit-breaker assembly for a distributor comprising, a contactsupporting plate, a second plate pivotally supported by said contactsupporting plate, an electrical contact supported by said second plate,a breaker arm pivotally mounted on said contact supporting platecarrying an electrical contact that is periodically engageable with saidfirst-named electrical contact, a rubbing block carried by said breakerarm and adapted to be engaged by a distributor breaker cam, a firstopen-ended slot in said contact supporting plate located adjacent oneend thereof, and a second open-ended slot in said contact supportingplate located adjacent an opposite end thereof, said second slotextending substantially along an arc of a circle the center of which islocated in said first slot.

8. In a distributor, a breaker plate, a circuit-breaker assemblyincluding a contact plate resting on said breaker plate, a second platepivoted to said contact plate, a first contact on said second plate anda breaker arm having a contact that is engageable with said firstcontact pivotally supported by said contact plate, an openended slot insaid contact plate, an opening in said contact plate, an integralprojection on said breaker plate fitting within said opening, and ascrew threaded into said breaker plate having a portion engaging the topside of said contact plate and passing through the said slot formed insaid contact plate for holding said projection positively seated in saidopening.

9. In a distributor, a breaker plate, a rotatable breaker cam, acircuit-breaker assembly including a contact plate resting on saidbreaker plate, a second plate pivoted to said contact plate, a firstcontact on said second plate and a breaker arm having a contact that isengageable with said first contact pivotally supported by said contactplate, a rubbing block on said breaker arm engageable with said breakercam, an opening in said contact plate, a projection on said breakerplate fitting within said opening, an open-ended slot in said contactplate the side edges of which are located substantially normal to thedirection of force applied to said rubbing block by said breaker cam,and a screw passing through said slot having a portion engaging the topside of said contact plate and threaded into said breaker plate forholding said projection positively seated in said opening.

10. In a distributor, a breaker plate, a rotatable breaker cam, acircuit-breaker assembly including a contact plate resting on saidbreaker plate, a second plate pivoted to said contact plate, a firstcontact on said second plate and a breaker arm having a contact that isengageable with said first contact pivotally supported by said contactplate, a rubbing block on said breaker arm engageable with said breakercam, an opening in said contact plate,

a projection on said breaker plate fitting within said opening, a firstopen-ended slot in said contact plate the side edges of which arelocated substantially normal to the direction of force applied to saidrubbing block by said breaker cam, a second open-ended slot in saidcontact plate having side edges that extend substantially along an arcof a circle the center of which is located in said first slot, a firstscrew extending through said first slot and threaded into said breakerplate, and a second screw extending through said second slot andthreaded into said breaker plate, said screws operating to hold saidprojection positively seated in said opening.

11. A circuit breaker assembly for a distributor comprising, a contactsupporting plate, an up-standing pin fixed to said supporting plate, asecond plate carrying a fixed contact pivotally mounted on said pin at apoint located adjacent one end of said second plate and resting on saidcontact supporting plate, an opening in said contact supporting platespaced from said pin and located below a portion of said second plate,an opening in said second plate, a spring metal member having asubstantially U-shaped shank portion extending through said opening andhaving a pair of integral resilient ears engaging the under side of saidcontact supporting plate adjacent the opening in said contact supportingplate, said shank portion having a second pair of integral ears engagingthe top side of said second plate whereby said contact supporting plateand said second plate are slidably secured together, a breaker armpivotally supported by said pin having a contact that is engageable withsaid fixed contact and carrying a rubbing block that is adapted toengage a distributor breaker cam, and means for adiusting said secondplate relative to said contact supporting plate.

12. A circuit breaker assembly for a distributor, comprising, a contactsupporting plate, an upstanding pin fixed to said supporting plate, asecond plate carrying a fixed contact pivotally mounted on said pin at apoint located adjacent one end of said second plate and resting on saidcontact supporting plate, an opening in said contact supporting platespaced from said pin and located below a portion of said second plate,an opening in said second plate, a spring metal member having asubstantially U-shaped shank portion extending through said opening andhaving a pair of integral resilient ears engaging the underside of saidcontact supporting plate adjacent the opening in said contact supportingplate, said shank portion having extending portions engaging the topside of said second plate whereby said contact supporting plate and saidsecond plate are slidably secured together, a breaker arm pivotallysupported by said pin having a contact that is engageable with saidfixed contact and carrying a rubbing block that is adapted to engage adistributor breaker cam, and means for adjusting said second platerelative to said contact supporting plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,187,430 Kenly June 13, 1916 2,066,069 Ehrlich Dec. 29, 1936 2,124,694Gachet et al July 26, 1938 2,328,757 Tinnerman Sept. 7, 1943 2,546,710Eldridge Mar. 27, 1951 2,758,181 Crouch Aug. 7, 1956 2,816,968 Julian etal. Dec, 17, 1957 2,835,755 Filko May 20, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 576,225Great Britain Nov. 9, 1943 482,035 Canada Mar. 25, 1952

